TheJohn MaythamShow

The Economic Freedom Fighters is turning four! And many pundits did not think they would last.

Yet the EFF is now South Africa's third largest political party.

We are over the moon about this achievement...and the doomsayers predicted that we will be around for a few months or at least until the one election and then die.

— Dali Mpofu, EFF national chairperson

For me personally, when I joined the EFF, some of my friends thought I had lost it completely.

— Dali Mpofu, EFF national chairperson

He says those same friends who believed the EFF would fail, now ask him how he knew it would, in fact, change the entire political landscape.

Four years, we are a baby in political terms, but it is a baby that has achieved so much.

— Dali Mpofu, EFF national chairperson

Anyone who has been involved in this game will tell you that for any political party to achieve more than 1 million votes within a few months of its formation is no small feat.

— Dali Mpofu, EFF national chairperson

They also quickly had a footprint across all nine provinces.

The EFF's 'Pay Nack the Money' campaign may well be one of its biggest victories.

Mpofu remembers how analysts and other pundits at the time were saying 'can't we stop this campaign, it is now a tired campaign.'

And none of them dreamed that the money is going to be paid back because of the EFF.

— Dali Mpofu, EFF national chairperson

He says the critics thought EFF would then close up shop once the money was paid back. But they were wrong.

The agility of the organisation...then coined the term Zupta and Zupta must fall....and you can see now the culmination of the anti-corruption campaign which is now bearing fruit, and will probably be the downfall of the current regime.

— Dali Mpofu, EFF national chairperson

Opponents underestimate the intellectual thinking within the EFF, he says. People think these are spontaneous actions, he says, but they are serious well thought out political campaigns.

And future uncertainty for South Africa?

The only people who should be frightened are people who don't love this country. If you love this country...you must accept that this is one of the most divided countries and one of the most unequal societies. What we really want...all of us..is a peaceful South Africa, a stable South Africa, one which is inclusive, where colour does not matter.

— Dali Mpofu, EFF national chairperson

But, he says, you can't have that just by wishful thinking or prayers.

To get there you need to go through the painful step of sharing the wealth.